Sheet-feeding machine.



Patented Nov. 21,1899;

F. L. CROSS.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 30 1898.,

3 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

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No.-637,324. Patented Nov. 2|, I899. F. L. CROSS.

SHEET FEED|NG MACHINE. (Application filed Nov. 30, 1898,,

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No; 637,324. Patented Nov. 2|, i899.

F. L. CROSS.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 80, 1898.-

QNo Model.) 3 Sheets- -Sl1uet 3 UNITED STATES PATENT GEET'CE.

FRANK L. CROSS, CE MYsTIC, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD MACHINERY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SHEET-FEEDING MACHINE.

sPEcIEICATIQN forming part ofLetters Patent No. 637,324, dated November 21, 1899: Application filed November 30, 1898. Serial No. 697,852. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK L. Onoss, of Mys-' tic, county of New London, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Feeding Machines;

and I do hereby declare the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same, to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The invention relates to that class of sheetfeeding machines in which a bank or pile of sheets are acted upon by combing devices which act to fan or feather out the top sheets, thus advancing the top sheet a greater distance than the sheets beneath it, so that said top sheet may be separated from the pile or bank and fed forward to machines or devices for further manipulating or acting uponthe sheet. In this class of machines it has been customary to operate the devices to which the top sheet is advanced by the comber or combers at regular intervals and to throw the comber or combers into operation at regular intervals, said coinber or combers being so 2 5 controlled that they cease to operate upon the pile of sheets when the front edge of the top sheet has been advanced into proper position. The length of time the combers act, or the combing interval, will therefore depend on 0 the distance the top sheet must be advanced, which distance will depend on the amount the pile or bank of sheets is feathered or the distance between the edges of successive sheets. In order that the sheets maybe prop- 3 5 erly separated from the pile and advanced to the devices for further advancing the sheet, the pile or bank of sheets should be so fed to the combing devices that the combing interval will be constant within certain limits. 0 Since the action of the combing devices gives several of the top sheets an advancing movement, which is greatest in the top sheet and gradually diminishes in the successive sheets, the sheets will be fanned out more and more 5 and the combing interval becomes longer and longer, and if there is no feed of the bank of sheets the combing interval will increase until the front edge'of the sheet will not be advanced into proper position at the proper time. On the other hand, if successive feeding movements of the bank of sheets takes place before the combing devices have acted upon the sheets a sufficient number of times to fan out the sheets to a proper degree the combing interval Will be gradually shortened until the sheets will not be properly separated. The number of times that the comb ing devices must act.before the sheets are combed or fanned out to the proper extent will depend on the amount that the bank is feathered before it'comes under the action of the combing device, which amount varies widely in the parts of the bank. In order, therefore, that the combing interval shall remain substantially constant, there should be no feed of the pile or bank of sheets so long as the combing interval is normal or below the normal; but the pile should be fed as soon as the combing interval increases above a certain point.

It is accordingly one object of the present improvements to provide means for auto matically effecting this result, and this is accomplished by providing means for feeding the pile or bank of sheets, which is thrown into operation only when the combing interval exceeds a certain amount.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient mechanism for controlling the action of the combers upon the bank or pile of sheets.

In the accompanying drawings the improvements are shown embodied in a machine of the same general character as the machine shown in the patent of Thomas A. Briggs and myself, No. 613,793, dated November 8, 1898- that is to say, a machine in which a bank of feathered sheets are fed from an upper supply-table through a curved throat to a lower feed-table, Where the individual sheets are 0 separated and removed; but it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms of sheet-feeding machines;

'Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View indicating the gen- 5 eral character of the machine in which the present improvements are embodied. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one side of the machine, showing the preferred form of the present improvements. Fig. 3 isa side elevation of the I00 same. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail on line 4t 4:, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional View of a modified form of mechanism for controlling the feed of the bank of sheets, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 represents the feed-table, to which the bank of feathered sheets 2 are fed from a supply-table 3, which is arranged above the feed-table,with its front end over the rear end of the feedtable. The bank of sheets passes from the supply to the feed table through a curved throat formed between the feed-wheels 4 and the curved guides 5', secured to the rear end of the feed-table. Pressure-rolls 6 are located above the feed-wheels and act to press the sheets against the feed-wheels and insure a positive feeding of the bank of sheets. The

bank upon the supply-table rests upon endless bands 7, which extend along the upper face of the table, around the feed-wheels, and back over guide 8 and roll 9. The bank of sheets upon the feed-table is acted upon by combing-rolls 10, one only of which is shown, said rolls being located at each side of the table and being independently controlled, so that the combing roll or rolls at each side acts until the edge of the sheet at that side has been advanced into proper position to be seized and removed. The combing-rolls act to comb out the sheets and advance the front edge of the top sheet into position between the forwarding-rolls 11 and 12. The rolls 12 are mounted upon a shaft 13, which is raised and lowered at regular intervals by any suitable mechanism, and the rolls 11 are mounted upon a shaft 14, which is constantly revolved by any suitable gearing. As the front edge of the sheet comes into position between the forwarding-rolls it acts upon a switch or other device which controls the action of the combing-roll and causes said roll to cease its action upon the top sheet.

The devices for operating and controlling the combing-rolls are the same at each side of the machine, and therefore only the devices at one side of the machine have been shown and only one set of devices will be described.

The combing-roll is secured to a shaft 15, which is mounted in an arm 16, supported on a constantly-running shaft 17, and said shaft 15 is constantly driven by gearing 17, carried by arm 16 and connecting said shaft andv shaft 17. The shaft 17 may be driven by any suitable mechanism-such, for instance, as that shown in the patent referred to. The shaft 15 is connected to a rock-shaft 18 by means of the toggle arms or levers 19 and 20, which are pivoted together, the arm 19 being loosely mounted on the shaft 15 and the arm 20 being secured to rock-shaft 18. The rock shaft 18 is mounted in arms 21, hung on a rod 22, extending transversely of the machine. A clamp 23 is hung on the rock-shaft l8 and is guided by the shaft 15, which passes through a slot in said clamp. Then the front'etlge of the sheet has been advanced into proper position between the forwarding-rolls, the shaft 18 is rocked. The first movement of the shaft lowers the clamp 23 onto the pile of sheets just back of the rear edge of the top sheet, and then continued movement of the rockshaft raises the combing-rolls off of the sheets. lVhen the next sheet is to be advanced to the forwarding-rolls, the rock-shaft is moved in the opposite direction and the combing-roll first moved into contact with the sheets and then the clamp raised.

The combing-rolls are operated and controlled by mechanism which embodies certain features of the present invention in their preferred form, which mechanism in the form shown is as follows: The rock-shaft 18 is connected to a reciprocating slide by means of a link 25, one end of which is pivoted to said slide at 26 and the other end of which is pivoted to the end of an arm 27, secured to the end of shaft 18. The slide consists of two bars or plates 24 and 28, one of.which, 24, is guided in a bracket 29, secured to the side frame 30. The bars are further guided by means of a bushing or sleeve 31, Fig. 4, which surrounds a const-antlyrunning shaft 32 and engages slots form ed in said bars. The slide is forced forward at regular intervals to throw the combing roll or rolls into action by means of a cam 33, secured to shaft 32 and arranged to engage a roll 34 on said slide. A spring 35 has one end secured to the bar 24 and the other to the frame and tends to hold the slide in its retracted position. \Vhen the slide is advanced against the tension of spring to throw the combing-rolls into action, said slide is held in thiS position until it is released by the action of the front edge of the sheet by the following mechanism: An electromagnet 36 is mounted on the stationary sleeve 31 between the bars 24 and 28. The sleeve 31 is secured to the bushing 55, to be described, by a pin 55, Fig. 4. An armature 37 is arranged to slide over the face of the magnet 36 and is carried by a frame 38, provided with two arms 30, which are journaled on the sleeve 31 outside the bars 24 and 28. Armature 37 is secured to frame 38 by a screw 308. The frame 38 is connected by means of a link 39 to the end of a lever 40, which is pivoted to the frame 30 at 41. The lever 40 is provided with a slot 42 and is connected with the bars 24 and 28 by a pin 43, which passes through said bars and said slots. The circuit of the electroinagnet formed by the wires a b and the generator B is provided with a controlling device located in the path of the sheets, so that said magnet is decnergized when the front edge of the sheet engages said controlling device. In the form shown the controlling device is a switch, consisting of the contacts 44 and 45, one of which is carried by a lever 45, the end of which is arranged in the path of the sheets. Another switch 0, consisting of the contact-plate 46 and the spring contact-finger 47, is also included in the magnet-circuit. This switch is controlled by a cam 48, secured to the shaft 32, and arranged to engage the end of an arm 49, projecting from an oscillating sleeve 50, which is pro-' vided with a second arm 51, arranged to engage the finger 47. A spring 52 tends to hold the arm 51 in position to allow the finger 47 to engage the plate 46 and close the circuit at this point. It will be understood that either the magnet or armature may be the reciproeating part without departing from this fea ture of invention.

The operation is as follows: When the cam 33 strikes the roll 34, the slide is advanced to move the combing-rolls into action. At this time the upper forwarding-rolls 12 are raised and the arm 49 rides on the cam 48, thus holding the finger 47 away from the plate 46, so that the magnet 36 is not energized and the armature 37 is free to slide over the magnet. As the cam 33 forces the slide forward the lever 40 is swung on its pivot 41, and, through the link 39*, slides the armature 37 forward over the magnet. When the combing-rolls are fully down upon the pile of sheets, the cam 48 passes from under the arm 49, allowing the finger 47 to close the circuit, thus energizing the magnet, so that the armature attaches itself thereto and prevents the return of the slide. The combing-roll now acts upon the top sheet until the front edge engages the end of lever and breaks the circuit. The magnet then releases the armature 37 and the slide is retracted by the spring 35'," throwing the combing-roll out of actionf Just before the rolls 12 are brought down upon the sheet the point 53 of cam 48 strikes arm 49 and opens switch 0, so that the combing-roll will be thrown out of action before the forwarding-rolls begin to act, should they not have been thrown out before. The magnet 36 may be held stationary by being secured to the fixed sleeve 31; but it is preferred to loosely mount said magnet on said sleeve and. to yieldingly hold it in position by a spring 36', which is secured to a pin 37, projecting from said magnet, and holds said pin against a stop 38'. With this construction should the circuit be accidentally closed before the armature had reached the limit of its movement the magnet will turn with the armature and when released will return to its normal position.

While it is preferred to usea magnet in the form of a disk and to oscillate the armature about an axis, it will be understood that if desired the magnet may be of different shape and the armature be moved over the face of the magnet in a path other than a curved path or that the armature may be the stationary part and the magnet moved.

The combing-rolls act to comb or feather out the bank of sheets and to increase the distance between the edges of successive sheets, thus increasing the distance through which the top sheet must be advanced, and unless the bank of sheets is fed forward under the combing-rolls this distance may become so great that the forwarding-rolls will be thrown into action before the sheet reaches them or the combing-rolls thrown out of action before the sheet has been advanced into position. On the other hand, if the bank of sheets is fed when the combing interval is normal or below the normal the sheets will not be combed out sufficiently, and two or more sheets may be fed to the forwarding-rolls at the same time.

Another feature of invention accordingly consists in providing mechanism for automatically feeding the bank of sheets which acts only when the combing interval exceeds a certain amount, and thus the proper timing and separation of the sheets are effected. This feature of invention may be embodied in any suitable mechanism, and in the drawings two forms of mechanism are shown embodying this feature of invention.

The preferred form of mechanism is shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 and is as follows: The feeding-wheels 4 are secured upon a hollow shaft 54, which surrounds shaft 32 and is supported on bushings 55, secured in the side frames. A worm-wheel 56 is secured at one end of the shaft 54 and is engaged bya worm 57, secured to a short shaft 58, which also carries a bevel-gear 59. The gear 59 is engaged by a bevel-gear 60, secured to a shaft 61, journaled in the frame 30. A ratchetwheel 62 is secured to the shaft 61 and is arranged to be engaged by a pawl 63, pivoted to a pawl-carrying lever 64, loosely mounted on the shaft 61 and connected by a connecting-rod 65 with a crank 66, secured to-the shaft 31. The pawl-lever is thus constantly oscillated to carry the pawl back and forth over the ratchet-wheel. When the combing interval is below a certain amount, the pawl is held out of engagement with the ratchetwheel, so that the shaft 61 remains stationary. When, however, the combers remain in action beyond a certain length of time, the pawl is allowed to engage the ratchet-wheel and revolve shaft 51, thus operating the feedwheels 4 to feed forward the bank of sheets. The devices for thus controlling the action of the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism are as follows: The pawl is provided with a pin 67, which rests on the top of a guard 68, carried by a sleeve 69, loosely mounted on shaft 61. The sleeve 69 is provided with a weighted extension 70, which rests upon a pin 71, carried by the pawl-carrying lever 64, and holds the guard 68 under the pawl as the pawlcarrying arm is oscillated. The sleeve 69 is also provided with a lug 72, having a shoulder or notch 73 formed thereon. A dog 74 is pivoted on the frame and is arranged to be moved into and out of the path of the shoulder. The dog 74 is connected with and operated by an arm 75, the free end of which rests on the top of bar 24 and is acted on by a cam 76 on said bar. When the combingrolls are in action, the end of arm 75 rests on the top of slide 24 and the dog 74 is in position to engage the shoulder 73, and when the slide moves back to raise the combing-rolls the cam 76 lifts the arm and raises the dog out of the path of shoulder 73.

Supposing the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 3-that is, the position they occupy at the beginning of the combing interval and the combing interval to be normal or below the normal-then before the crank 66 has moved far enough to bring the shoulder 73 against dog 74 or to carry the pawl off of the guard the slide has been released and the cam has raised the dog 74: out of the path of shoulder 73, thus allowing the guard 08 to move around with the pawl and hold said pawl out of engagement with the ratchetwheel. Should the combers remain in action beyond a certain time, then when the lever 64 is swung forward the dog 74 will engage the shoulder 73 and arrest the movement of the guard 68 and the pawl will pass off of said guard and engage the ratchet-wheel. By making the guard adjustable in width the amount of movement of the lever 64 necessary before the pawl engages the ratchetwheel may be varied, thus varying the length of the combing interval before feeding of the bank of sheets will take place.

In Figs. 5 and G is shown another form of mechanism for controlling the feed of the bank of sheets by the combing interval. As shown in these views, a gear 78 is secured to the shaft 51 and is engaged by a pinion '79, secured to a shaft 80, which also has secured thereto a gear 81. The gear 81 is engaged by a gear 82, which is secured to a frame 83, loosely mounted on a sleeve 8-1, secured to the hub of a bevel-gear 85, which is loosely mounted on the shaft 32. The sleeve 81 is the hub of a disk 80, provided with a lateral flange 87, upon the inner face of which are mounted shoes 88. The shoes 88 are connected with the flange 87 by pins 89, so that said shoes may have-a slight radial movement on said pins. lVithin the shoes 88 is an electromagnet in the form of a disk 90, which is secured to a bracket 91. The frame 83 carries a bevel-gear 92, which meshes with gear and also with a similar bevel-gear 93, secured to the shaft 32. The circuit of the electromagnet 90, formed by the wires 0 d and generator D, is provided with aswitch E, consisting of the plate 91 and the spring-finger 95. An arm 90, projecting from a sleeve 97, is provided with a pin 98, which is arranged to engage the finger 95. The sleeve 97 is mounted to rock on a rod 99 and is provided with an arm 100, arranged to be acted on by a cam 101, secured to shaft 32. The sleeve 97 is also provided with an arm 102, which lies below the bar 21 and is arranged to engage said bar when the cam 101 is out of engagement with the arm 100. The bar 21L is provided with a notch or recess 103, which overlies the end of arm 102 when the bar is advanced and the combers are in action.

The operation is as follows: \Vhen the cir cuit is broken at the switch E, the gear 93, acting through gears 92 and 85, rotates the disk 86, the gear 82 and frame 83 being sta tionary. XVhen the circuit is closed and the magnet energized, the shoes 88 attach themselves to the magnet, and the disk 86 and attached gear 85 are held from rotation. The gear 93 will now rotate gear 92, and since gear 85 is held from movement the rotation of gear 93 will cause said gear to travel around gear 85, thus rotating frame 83 and the attached gear 82. This movement of gear 82 will drive the shaft 54 and cause the feed-wheels at to feed forward the bank of sheets until the cireuitis again broken. Vhen the cam 93 throws the combing-rolls into action, the cam 101 is in engagement with arm 100 and holds the switch open. During the combing the recess 103 is above the end of arm 102, and should the cam 101 pass from under the arm 100 before bar 24 is retracted to throw the combing-rolls out of action the spring 104 will draw arm 90 away from finger and allow the switch E to close, and thus complete the circuit, when the feed of the bank of sheets will take place and continue until the bar 24 is retracted. \Vhen the bar 24c is retracted, the arm 102 rides out of the recess 103, thus rocking sleeve 97 and breaking the circuit. The cam 101 is so arranged that it will hold the switch open until the combing has continued a certain time, and if the combing ceases within this time the bar 24 will be retracted before the arm is released by the cam, so that when said arm is released the bar 24, acting on arm 102, will still hold the switch open, and no feeding of the bank of sheets will take place. Thus no feed will take place until the combing interval exceeds a predetermined amount, and when the combing interval docs exceed this amount the feeding of the bank of sheets will take place, and the amount of feed will be proportional to the length of the combing interval above the predetermined amount.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for feeding sheets, the com bination with a combing device, mechanism for throwing said device into action, mechanism controlled by the sheet for throwing said device out of action, mechanism for feeding a bank of sheets to the combing device, and means for throwing said feeding mechanism into action when the combing interval exceeds a predetermined amount, substantially as described. v

2. Ina machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing-roll, mechanism for throwing said rollinto action, mechanism controlled by-thc sheet for throwing said roll out of action, mechanism for feeding a bank of sheets to said combing-roll, and means for throwing said feeding mechanism into action when the combing interval exceedsa predetermined amount, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing-roll, of mechanism for throwing said roll into action, mechanism controlled by the sheet for throwing said IIC mechanism out of action, mechanism for feeding a bank of feathered sheets to said roll, and means for throwing said feeding mechanism into action when the combing interval exceeds a predetermined amount, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a feed-table, a supply-table above said feed-table, a curved throat between said tables, feed-wheels for feeding a bank of feathered sheets through said throat, a combing-roll above the feed-table, mechanism for throwing said roll into action, mechanism controlled by the sheet for throwing said roll out of action, and mechanism for operating said feed-wheels when the combing interval exceeds a predetermined amount, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of mechanism for feeding a bank of sheets to said combing device, mechanism for intermittently throwing the combing device into action, means for preventing the action of the feeding mechanism until the combing interval exceeds a predetermined amount, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of mechanism for feeding a bank of sheets to said combing device, mechanism for intermittently throwing said combing device into action, mechanism controlled by the sheet for throwing said combing device out of action, and means-for preventing the action of the feeding mechanism until the combing interval exceeds a predetermined amount, substantially as described.

7. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of mechanism for feeding a bank of sheets to said combing device, mechanism for intermittently throwing said combing device into operation, means for preventing the operation of the feeding mechanism, means for rendering said preventing means inoperative, and mechanism for simultaneously throwing the combing device and the means for rendering the preventing device inoperative out of operation, substantially as described.

8. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with forwarding devices acting at regular intervals, of a combing device, mechanism for throwing said device into action at regular intervals, mechanism for throwing said combing device out of action when the sheet is in proper position relative to the forwarding devices, mechanism for feeding a bank of sheets to the combing device, and means for throwing said feeding mechanism into action when the combing interval exceeds a predetermined amount, substantially as described.

9. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with intermittently-acting forwarding devices, of a combing device for advancing individual sheets to said forwarding devices, mechanism for intermittently throwing the combing device into action, mechanism controlled by the advanced sheet for throwing the combing device out of action, mechanism for feeding a bank of sheets to the combing device and means for throwing said feeding mechanism into action when the combin g interval exceeds a predetermined amount, substantially as described.

10. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with forwarding devices, of a combing device, for advancing individual sheets to said forwarding devices, mechanism for throwing the combing device into action at regular intervals, mechanism controlled by the sheet for throwing the combing device out of action, mechanism for feeding a bank of sheets to the combing device, and means for throwing said feeding mechanism into action when the combing interval exceeds a predetermined amount, substantially as described.

11. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of do vices for feedingabank of sheets to said combing device, a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism for operating said feeding devices, a guard for holding said pawl out of operation, and mechanism for rendering said guard inoperative when the combing interval exceeds a predev termined amount, substantially as described.

12. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of devices for feeding a bank of sheets to said combin g device, a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism for operating said. feeding devices, a guard mov ing with said pawl for holding said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet, a dog for arresting said guard, and mechanism for simultaneously throwing the combing device and dog out of operation, substantially as described.

13. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of a reciprocating slide for throwing said combing device into and out of operation, devices for feeding a bank of sheets to said combing device, a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism for operating said feeding devices, a guard for holding said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet, a dog for arresting said guard, anda cam on said slide for operating said dog, substantially as described.

14. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of devices for feeding a bank of sheets thereto, a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism for operating said feeding devices, a guard moving with said pawl for holding said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet, a dog for arresting said guard, a reciprocating slide for throwing said combing device into and out of operation, and a cam on said slide for operating said dog, substantially as described.

15. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of mechanism for throwing said device into action,

an armature, an electromagnet, one of said parts being stationary and the other connected with said mechanism and reciprocating therewith, a circuit for said magnet, means for deenergizing said magnet while the comb ing device is being thrown into operation, and means controlled by the sheet for deenergizing said magnet, substantially as described.

16. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of mechanism for throwing said device into action, an electromagnet, an armature, one of said parts being connected with said mechanism and arranged to move over the face of the other part, a circuit for said electromagnet, means for det-nergizing said magnet while the combing device is being thrown into action, and means controlled by the sheet for deenergizing said magnet, substantially as de= scribed.

17. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a eombingdevice, ofa reciprocating slide for throwing said combing device into and out of action, an electromagnet, an armature, one of said parts being connected with said slide, a circuit for the electro magnet, means for deencrgizing said magnet while the slide is advancing, and means controlled by the sheet for deenergizing said magnet, substantially as described.

18. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of a slide connected therewith, a cam for advancing said slide, a spring for returning said slide, an electromagnet, an armature, one of said parts being connected with said slide, a circuit for said magnet, means for deenergizing said magnet while the slide is advancing, and means controlled by the sheet for deenergizing said magnet to release said slide, substantially as described.

19. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of mechanism for throwing said device into action, an armature connected with said mechanism and reciprocated thereby, an electromagnet, a circuit therefor, means for deenergizin g said magnet while the combing device is being thrown into operation, and means controlled by the sheet for deenergizing said magnet, substantially as described.

20. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of mechanism for throwing said device into action, an electromagnet, a circuit therefor, an armature connected with said mechanism and arranged to move over the face of said magnet, means fordeenergizing said magnet while the combing device is being thrown into action, and means controlled by the sheet for deenergizing said magnet, substantially as de scribed.

21. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of a reciprocating slide for throwing said combing device into and out of action, an electromagnet, a circuit therefor, an armature connected with said slide, means for deenergizing said magnet while the slide is advancing, and means controlled by the sheet for deenergizing said magnet, substantially as described.

22. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of a slide connected therewith, a cam for advancing said slide, a spring for returning said slide, an electromagnet, a circuit therefor, an armature connected with said slide, means for decnergizing said magnet while the slide is advancing, and means controlled by the sheet for decnergizing said magnet to release said slide, substantially as described.

23. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of mechanism for throwing said slide into operation, a circular electromagnet, an armature mounted to oscillate about the axis of said magnet, and connected with said slide, means including an electric circuit for energizing said magnet to hold the combing device in action, and means controlled by the sheet for deenergizing said magnet, substantially as described.

24. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing-roll, a rock-shaft connected therewith for raising and lowering said roll, a slide for operating said rock-shaft, a cam for advancing said slide, a spring for retracting said slide, an electromagnet, a circuit therefor, an armature connected with said slide, means for deenergizing said slide while the slide is advancing, and means controlled by the sheet for deenergizin g said magnet to release said slide, substantially as described.

25. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of mechanism for throwing said device into action, an electromagnet, an armature connected with said mechanism and reciprocated thereby, a switch in the magnet-circuit, a cam for holding said switch open while the combing device is being thrown into action, and a switch in said circuit arranged to be opened by the sheet, substantially as described.

26. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of a 1'0- tary cam for throwing said device into action, a stationary circular electromagnet, an armature mounted to oscillate about said magnet and operated by said cam, a switch in the circuit of said magnet, a cam for operating said switch, a switch in said circuit controlled by the sheet, substantially as described.

27. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of a slide for throwing said device into and out of action, a cam for advancing said slide, aspring for retracting said slide, a circular electromagnet, an armature connected with said slide and mounted to oscillate about said magnet, a switch in the circuit of said magnet, a cam for holding said switch openwhile the slide is advancing, and a switch in said circuit operated by the sheet, substantially as described.

28. In a machine for feeding sheets, the combination with a combing device, of a slide for throwing the same into and out of operation, a rotating shaft 32, a cam 33 secured to said shaft for advancing said slide, a spring for retracting said slide, an electromagnet 36 concentric with the shaft, an armature 37 arranged to oscillate about said magnet, connections between said armature and slide, a

switch in the circuit of the magnet, a cam 48 10 for operating said switch, and a switch in said circuit arranged to be operated by the sheet, substantially as described.

FRANK L. CROSS.

Witnesses:

J. O. FIsH, H. B. NoYEs, Jr. 

